Higher Ground Productions, also known simply as Higher Ground, is an American production company which was founded in 2018 by former United States President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.

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Higher Ground
Company typePrivate
IndustryEntertainment
Founded2018 (2018)
Founder
Headquarters
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History

In May 2018, the Obamas launched Higher Ground Productions by signing a multi-year deal with Netflix to produce scripted and unscripted film and television projects, with the goal of the company to lift up diverse voices in the entertainment industry.[1] Michelle Obama stated "I have always believed in the power of storytelling to inspire us, to make us think differently about the world around us, and to help us open our minds and hearts to others."[1] In February 2019, Priya Swaminathan, Tonia Davis, and Qadriyyah “Q” Shamsid-Deen joined the company, with Swaminathan and Davis serving as co-heads and Shamsid-Deen serving as a creative executive.[2]

On June 6, 2019, Spotify announced a partnership with Higher Ground to produce Spotify-exclusive podcasts.[3] The first podcast under the partnership, The Michelle Obama Podcast, premiered on July 29, 2020.[4]

The company's first film was American Factory, released in 2019. Netflix released Becoming a documentary following Michelle Obama on her book tour promoting her memoir of the same name.[5]

Higher Ground has multiple projects in development, including a feature film adaptation of Frederick Douglass's biography, a drama series set in the fashion scene of post-WWII New York City, and a scripted anthology series of the New York Times obituary column highlighting deaths of remarkable people not reported.[6]

In June 2022, it was announced that Higher Ground would be ending its partnership with Spotify, as it signed a multi-year, multi-million-dollar deal with Audible.[7]

Awards

In 2020, the company won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program for American Factory.[8][9][10]

Productions

Feature films

More information Release date, Title ...
Release date Title Notes Ref.
June 7, 2021 Fatherhood
September 3, 2021 Worth
November 3, 2023 Rustin AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Actor
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Pending—World Soundtrack Award for Best Original Song
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actor
Nominated—AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Ensemble
Nominated—AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Time Capsule
Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Film
Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Lead Performance
Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Screenplay
Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Ensemble
Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Costume Design
Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Hairstyling & Makeup
Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Original Score
Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Original Song
Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Original Soundtrack
Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Production Design
Nominated—Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actor
Nominated—Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Song
Nominated—Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song
Nominated—Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Score in a Feature Film
Nominated—Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Song in a Feature Film
Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Motion Picture
Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture
Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Nominated—San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Original Song
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated—Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
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December 8, 2023 Leave the World Behind Nominated—AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Actress
Nominated—AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Intergenerational Film
Nominated—Set Decorators Society of America Award for Best Achievement in Decor/Design of a Contemporary Feature Film
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Television

More information Release date, Title ...
Release date Title Notes Ref.
March 16, 2021 Waffles + Mochi An educational Netflix original series for kids; centered on healthy eating.
Nominated—Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Preschool Series (2022–2023)
Nominated—Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Live Action Preschool or Children's Program (2022)
Nominated—Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Live Action Single-Camera Program (2022–2023)
Nominated—Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Editing for a Single Camera Program (2023)
Nominated—Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Lighting, Camera and Technical Arts (2023)
Nominated—Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing and Sound Editing for a Live Action Program (2023)
Nominated—Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Visual Effects for a Live Action Program (2022)
Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Children's Program
Nominated—Producers Guild of America Award for Outstanding Children's Program
Nominated—TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming
Nominated—Writers Guild of America Award for Children's Script – Episodic, Long form and Specials
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July 4, 2021 We the People Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Program
Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Song in a TV Show/Limited Series
Nominated—Annie Award for Best Animated Television Production for Children
Nominated—Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production
Nominated—Guild of Music Supervisors Award for Best Song Written and/or Recorded for Television
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September 28, 2021 Ada Twist, Scientist An educational Netflix original series for kids; centered on science, technology, engineering and math.
Annie Award for Best Animated Television Production for Preschool
Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Preschool Animated Series (2022)
Nominated—Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Preschool Animated Series (2023)
Nominated—Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Preschool Animated Program (2022–2023)
Nominated—Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Preschool Animated Program (2022)
Nominated—Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Editing for a Preschool Animated Program (2023)
Nominated—Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice Directing for an Animated Series (2023)
Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Children's Program
Nominated—TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming
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April 13, 2022 Our Great National Parks Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding NarratorBarack Obama (for "A World of Wonder")
Nominated—Critics' Choice Documentary Award for Best Narration – Barack Obama
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program (for "Chilean Patagonia")
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May 19, 2022 The G Word with Adam Conover A spiritual successor to Adam Ruins Everything with a focus on the US Federal Government starring Adam Conover.
April 25, 2023 The Light We Carry: Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special [39]
May 17, 2023 Working: What We Do All Day How people find meaning and connection through work, sharing experiences and struggles; former President Barack Obama visits people in their homes and workplaces, following them at all levels, from service jobs to the executive suite.
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding NarratorBarack Obama (for "The Middle")
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May 9, 2024 Bodkin [41][42]
October 9, 2024 Starting 5 [43][44][45]
TBA White Mountains Reportedly based on the story of Barney and Betty Hill who claimed they were abducted by extraterrestrials. [46]
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Documentaries

More information Release date, Title ...
Release date Title Notes Ref.
August 21, 2019 American Factory Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature
Critics' Choice Documentary Award for Best Political Documentary
Critics' Choice Documentary Award for Best Director
Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary
Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Documentary
Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary Film
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program
Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary Film
Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Documentary
Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary
Nominated—Critics' Choice Documentary Award for Best Documentary Feature
Nominated—Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary Film
Nominated—Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Documentary Film
Nominated—Gotham Independent Film Audience Award
Nominated—Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Documentary Film
Nominated—National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Non-Fiction Film
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program
Nominated—Producers Guild of America Award for Best Documentary Motion Picture
Nominated—San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Award for Best Documentary Film
Nominated—Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize: U.S. Documentary
Nominated—Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary
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March 25, 2020 Crip Camp Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature
Sundance Film Festival Audience Award: U.S. Documentary
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature
Nominated—AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Documentary
Nominated—Critics' Choice Documentary Award for Best Documentary Feature
Nominated—Critics' Choice Documentary Award for Best Director
Nominated—Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary Film
Nominated—Golden Reel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Documentary
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Documentary Film
Nominated—Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize: U.S. Documentary
Nominated—Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary Film
Nominated—Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary
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May 6, 2020 Becoming Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Television Documentary or Special
Nominated—Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special
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October 21, 2022 Descendant Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Documentary
Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary
Nominated—Critics' Choice Documentary Award for Best Documentary Feature
Nominated—Critics' Choice Documentary Award for Best Director
Nominated—Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Documentary Film
Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Documentary
Nominated—National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Non-Fiction Film
Nominated—Producers Guild of America Award for Best Documentary Motion Picture
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Documentary Film
Nominated—Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize: U.S. Documentary
Nominated—Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary
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November 29, 2023 American Symphony Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary Film
Producers Guild of America Award for Best Documentary Motion Picture
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary
Pending—World Soundtrack Award for Best Original Song
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Original Song
Nominated—American Cinema Editors Award for Best Edited Documentary – Feature
Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Documentary
Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Documentary
Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Original Score
Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Original Song
Nominated—Cinema Audio Society Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Motion Picture – Documentary
Nominated—Critics' Choice Documentary Award for Best Documentary Feature
Nominated—Critics' Choice Documentary Award for Best Director
Nominated—Golden Reel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music Editing – Documentary
Nominated—Golden Reel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Documentary
Nominated—Guild of Music Supervisors Award for Best Song Written and/or Recording Created for a Film
Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Documentary (Film)
Nominated—San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Award for Best Documentary Film
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Documentary Film
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Original Song
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Sound (Editing and Mixing)
Nominated—Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Documentary
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Podcasts

More information Release date, Title ...
Release date Title Notes Ref.
July 29, 2020 (premiere) The Michelle Obama Podcast Produced in exclusive partnership with Spotify.
February 22, 2021 (premiere) Renegades: Born in the USA Produced in exclusive partnership with Spotify.
January 12, 2022 (season premiere) The Big Hit Show: Twilight Produced in exclusive partnership with Spotify.
February 9, 2022 (season premiere) The Big Hit Show: To Pimp a Butterfly Produced in exclusive partnership with Spotify.
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References

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